Champaign-Urbana Weekend Planner August 17-19 Sponsored by Taste of Champaign-Urbana

The Taste of Champaign returns to West Side Park on Aug. 17-18. Taste of Champaign-Urbana will feature food from some of Champaign- Urbana’s best restaurants. Come out to discover new food while enjoying high-quality music and entertainment with a frosty beer in hand. Be sure to check out the huge assortment of arts and crafts vendors, play in the Kids Zone, and run in the 6th Annual Pie Run. More information can be found here.

Read more about the Taste of Champaign-Urbana in our Pocket Guide, found here.

It’s also the last weekend to check out the Illinois State Fair. Did you and your family see the famed Butter Cow this year? This is your chance!

Also on our radar: Lodgic Everyday Community — which will feature a unique trio of dining, childcare and workplace amenities — is now just weeks away from launching in south Champaign. The area’s first flexible drop-in childcare and co-working space will open its doors at its South Neil location in September, but now’s the time to check out Workplace and Kids Camp packages and pricing.

What: Taste of Champaign-UrbanaWhere: West Side Park, ChampaignWhen: Friday, Aug. 17 from 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 18 from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.How much: FREE admission and live stage events; food for sale; some kids amenities ticketed; merchandise for sale.Appropriate for: All agesWhy you should go: One of our absolute favorite local events! Can’t beat the opportunity to eat lots of good food, catch up with friends, check out some quality entertainment and a whole lot more. West Side Park is the venue. Begins Friday evening and runs through Saturday. Visit our Chambanamoms.com Kids Zone for even more fun!

What: Apple Dumpling Festival Family Fun NightWhere: Downtown AtwoodWhen: Friday, August 17, 5-8 p.m.How much: All stage entertainment is FREE. There will be inflatables, carnival rides, & other activities at a cost.Appropriate for: All agesWhy you should go: Head over to Atwood, Illinois for a evening for the family and enjoy the festival at the 1st Annual Apple Dumpling Festival Family Fun Night. Crafts, bounce houses, carnival, special stands from local businesses and organizations, and special entertainment will be offered Friday night. Want more? On Saturday, August 18, check out the parade at 2pm or join in the 5K at 7:30 a.m..For a full list of all Saturday activities, click here. For more weekend festival fun, see our Fairs and Festivals guide, including the return of Philo’s “Fun Days” Kids Festival.

What: Sprouts at the MarketWhere: Urbana’s Market at the SquareWhen: Saturday, Aug. 18, 9:30 -11:30 a.m.
How much: FREE
Appropriate for: Geared to kids ages 3 to 8
Why you should go: This month, Sprouts make edible ‘dirt cups’ while learning all about soil. For more on taking kids to Urbana’s Market at the Square, click here.

What: llini pick of the week – Football Fan Appreciation Day
Where: Memorial StadiumWhen: Saturday, August 18, 5-6 p.m.How much: FREEAppropriate for: All agesWhy you should go: The Fighting Illini Football practice held on Aug. 18, the last practice open to the public, will take place inside Memorial Stadium from 3-5 p.m. It will be immediately followed by Fan Appreciation Day from 5-6 p.m., where fans will be allowed to come onto the field and get autographs and photos with the Fighting Illini.

What: I-Power Fall Kickoff and 10 Year Anniversary Celebration Where: I-Power Gymnastics, 215 S. Staley Road,Champaign When: Saturday, August 18 – 6-8 p.m.How much: FREEAppropriate for: All agesWhy you should go: Come celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of the school year with I-Power! 2018/19 Fall Kick-Off and 10th Year Anniversary Celebration Saturday, August 18th – 6-8pm at I-Power Gymnastics, 215 S. Staley Road in Champaign. FREE for all! Includes Open Gym in both our Preschool Facility and School-Age facility, Bounce Houses, Face Painting, Free Kona Ice.

What: Power Up! Summer Reading FinaleWhere: Champaign Public LibraryWhen: Sunday, August 19, 1-4 p.m.How much: FREEAppropriate for: All agesWhy you should go: From 1 to 1:45 p.m., join the library for an interactive science program, provided by Absolute Science, filled with fun demonstrations and experiments designed to delight the whole family. From 2 to 4 p.m. Absolute Science will have an array of exciting “creation stations” where kids can experience and, make and take awesome experiments. A balloon artist, wandering puppets by Clothespin Puppets, plus Wild Style Face Painters will round out the fun! In addition, there will be a Build-a-Lego-Car-Challenge to kickoff CPL’s new fall Lego Club.

Weekend Planner features only a few of the wonderful events happening in our area. For a full list, please visit our Events Calendar, sponsored by Busey.